"The latest data sent back by the Juno and Cassini spacecraft from giant gas planets Jupiter and Saturn have challenged a lot of current theories about how planets in our solar system form and behave.

"The detailed magnetic and gravity data have been "invaluable but also confounding," said David Stevenson from Caltech, who will present an update of both missions this week at the 2019 American Physical Society March Meeting in Boston. He will also participate in a press conference describing the work. Information for logging on to watch and ask questions remotely is included at the end of this news release.

""Although there are puzzles yet to be explained, this is already clarifying some of our ideas about how planets form, how they make magnetic fields and how the winds blow," Stevenson said.

"Cassini orbited Saturn for 13 years before its dramatic final dive into the planet's interior in 2017, while Juno has been orbiting Jupiter for two and a half years.

"Juno's success as a mission to Jupiter is a tribute to innovative design. Its instruments are powered by solar energy alone and protected so as to withstand the fierce radiation environment.

"Stevenson says the inclusion of a microwave sensor on Juno was a good decision.

""Using microwaves to figure out the deep atmosphere was the right, but unconventional, choice," he said. The microwave data have surprised the scientists, in particular by showing that the atmosphere is evenly mixed, something conventional theories did not predict.

""Any explanation for this has to be unorthodox," Stevenson said.

"Researchers are exploring weather events concentrating significant amounts of ice, liquids and gas in different parts of the atmosphere as possible explanations, but the matter is far from sealed.

"Other instruments on board Juno, gravity and magnetic sensors, have also sent back perplexing data. The magnetic field has spots (regions of anomalously high or low magnetic field) and also a striking difference between the northern and southern hemispheres.

""It's unlike anything we have seen before," Stevenson said.

"The gravity data have confirmed that in the midst of Jupiter, which is at least 90 percent hydrogen and helium by mass, there are heavier elements amounting to more than 10 times the mass of Earth. However, they are not concentrated in a core but are mixed in with the hydrogen above, most of which is in the form of a metallic liquid.

"The data has provided rich information about the outer parts of both Jupiter and Saturn. The abundance of heavier elements in these regions is still uncertain, but the outer layers play a larger-than-expected role in the generation of the two planets' magnetic fields. Experiments mimicking the gas planets' pressures and temperatures are now needed to help the scientists understand the processes that are going on.

"For Stevenson, who has studied gas giants for 40 years, the puzzles are the hallmark of a good mission.

""A successful mission is one that surprises us. Science would be boring if it merely confirmed what we previously thought," he said".

The charge field is not balanced, there is roughly 2/3 photons and 1/3 anti-photons in our solar system. Photons enter the south pole, anti-photons enter the north pole. There is also photons that enter one pole and exit the other, that would be the emitting part.

photons and anti-photons are the same particles but in the matter of field mechanics one is upside down to the other.

Photons have spin, if one is upside down to the other, you have left spins and right spins (ie chirality). This can also be seen at the poles, where counter rotation of atmosphere layers is observed.

The charge field is not balanced, there is roughly 2/3 photons and 1/3 anti-photons in our solar system. Photons enter the south pole, anti-photons enter the north pole. There is also photons that enter one pole and exit the other, that would be the emitting part.

photons and anti-photons are the same particles but in the matter of field mechanics one is upside down to the other.

Photons have spin, if one is upside down to the other, you have left spins and right spins (ie chirality). This can also be seen at the poles, where counter rotation of atmosphere layers is observed.

Regards,
Daniel

Yes, i think that is right. Electric, or photonic in Miles' terms, currents are probably always to some degree bi-directional.
A 3 to 2 ratio seems reasonable for our solar system and It is that asymmetry which is apparent at the poles of Jupiter, and elsewhere.
Thank you for that clarification.

"New Earth-based telescope observations show that auroras at Jupiter's poles are heating the planet's atmosphere to a greater depth than previously thought - and that it is a rapid response to the solar wind.

""The solar wind impact at Jupiter is an extreme example of space weather," said James Sinclair of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, who led new research published April 8 in Nature Astronomy. "We're seeing the solar wind having an effect deeper than is normally seen."

"Auroras at Earth's poles (known as the aurora borealis at the North Pole and aurora australis at the South Pole) occur when the energetic particles blown out from the Sun (the solar wind) interact with and heat up the gases in the upper atmosphere. The same thing happens at Jupiter, but the new observations show the heating goes two or three times deeper down into its atmosphere than on Earth, into the lower level of Jupiter's upper atmosphere, or stratosphere.

"Understanding how the Sun's constant outpouring of solar wind interacts with planetary environments is key to better understanding the very nature of how planets and their atmospheres evolve.

""What is startling about the results is that we were able to associate for the first time the variations in solar wind and the response in the stratosphere - and that the response to these variations is so quick for such a large area," said JPL's Glenn Orton, co-author and part of the observing team.

"Within a day of the solar wind hitting Jupiter, the chemistry in its atmosphere changed and its temperature rose, the team found. An infrared image captured during their observing campaign in January, February and May of 2017 clearly shows hot spots near the poles, where Jupiter's auroras are. The scientists based their findings on observations by the Subaru Telescope, atop the summit of Mauna Kea in Hawaii, which is operated by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan.

""Such heating and chemical reactions may tell us something about other planets with harsh environments, and even early Earth," said Yasumasa Kasaba of Tohoku University, who also worked on the observing team."

Yes, i think that is right. Electric, or photonic in Miles' terms, currents are probably always to some degree bi-directional.
A 3 to 2 ratio seems reasonable for our solar system and It is that asymmetry which is apparent at the poles of Jupiter, and elsewhere.
Thank you for that clarification.

Miles doesn't claim that the entire solar system has the same ratio of photons to antiphotons. E.g. in this paper on Pair Production, http://milesmathis.com/venus2.pdf , he said "The charge field here on the Earth is not symmetrical, because it has more photons than anti-photons. That is why the Earth is very magnetic, while Mars and Venus and the Moon are not. Any magnetic field will be non-symmetrical regarding photon spins, since the excess spins are what underlies magnetism. Only a field like that of Venus is nearly symmetrical." Also, "Notice that the electron spiral is exactly twice as big as the positron spiral. That means there are twice as many photons in the field as anti-photons." He's referring here to Earth, not Venus etc.

In this Venus paper, http://milesmathis.com/venus2.pdf , he provided more details as follows."I have shown that as we move out from the Sun, the charge field becomes more balanced, containing a higher percentage of antiphotons. In a recent paper on magnetic reconnection, I compiled findings from several previous papers, showing that the Solar corona has 10 to 15% anticharge, Mercury has about 20%, the Earth about 33%, and Uranus about 45%. I would estimate Saturn is closer to about 42%. Since balance would be 50%, this explains why Saturn has a weaker overall magnetic field compared to Jupiter (I did the full math and analysis in this recent paper called Saturn's Anemic Magnetic Field). The closer to balance, the more the two recycled fields interfere and cancel in the planetary interior, as a matter of spin."

Writing on the Thunderbolts Forum thread ‘Alfven and Juergens Circuits: A Reconciliation? 2.0’ I have suggested that the solar cycle- both sunspot and Hale magnetic cycles- are evidence of external currents powering the solar discharge.

What if Jupiter’s atmospheric activity and perhaps the Jovian system itself are powered by the very same external currents bound for the Sun?

Using data from 1962 to the present day A. P. Vidmachenko identified recurrent phenomena in the Jovian atmosphere that was closely aligned with the activity of the Sun.

“…we carried out the analysis of those individual estimates of Jupiter’s stellar magnitude M acquired in the period from 1962 to 1991; annual averaging was performed over 5–17 separate measurements. Comparison of the data on the change of Jupiter’s brightness M with the Wolf numbers W, characterizing the variations of solar activity, has shown that the change of M has extrema at the peaks of solar activity: minimums for the odd and maximums for the even cycles. That is, the change of Jupiter’s brightness in visible light shows a considerably more evident manifestation of Hale’s 22-year magnetic cycle, and not the 11-year cycle of solar activity.”(1)

“Thus, Hale’s magnetic cycle of solar activity is significantly more pronounced in the behavior of Jupiter’s integral brightness in the visual part of the spectrum.”(2)

“In order to estimate the relative amount of dark material on Jupiter’s disk as a photometric factor of atmospheric activity, a value Ra was proposed in [19] that was determined by the photometric profile of the central meridian. It was found that the character of change is approximately cyclic, with periods of 17–23 years. Analysis also showed a possible 9-year cyclicity of the activity factor for the northern and southern hemisphere.”(3)

“Thus, the maximum Aj value almost always coincided with the maximum distance from Jupiter to the Sun (at the aphelion) in 1969, 1981, 1993, 2004.5, and 2015 with minimum heating, especially in the southern hemisphere. The minimum Aj value almost always occurred in the moments close or coinciding with Jupiter being at the minimum distance from the Sun (at the perihelion) in 1963.8, 1975.6, 1987.5, 1998.7, and 2010.6 with maximum heating of the planet, especially its northern hemisphere.”(4)

From Vidmachenko’s research we can see that an unexpected pattern emerges- Jupiter’s brightness M shows extremes at the peaks of solar activity: minimum activity for the odd cycles and maximum activity for the even cycles. Furthermore, the maximum ‘activity value’ almost always occurs when Jupiter is at its most distant from the Sun.

Vidmachenko was even able to find this pattern using data from the 19th and 20th centuries: “Analysis of the data for 1850-1991 on determination of the integral magnitude MJ Jupiter in the V filter, and a comparison with the changes of the Wolf numbers W, characterizing the variations of solar activity (SA) – showed that the change of MJ in maxima of the SA – has minima for odd, and maximums - for the even of SA cycles. That is, changing of the Jupiter brightness in visible light is much evident 22.3-year magnetic cycle, and not just about the 11.1-year cycle of solar activity”. (5)

If Jupiter’s atmospheric activity is dependent upon solar thermal radiation, why should Jupiter be most active when it is most distant from the Sun?

Plus, Jupiter’s activity appears to be directly correlated with solar activity- we find an active Jupiter during an energetic solar maximum and a less active Jupiter during a weak solar minimum.

Vidmachenko again: “Jupiter’s factor activity AJ of hemispheres, not always varies symmetrically with respect to its value AJ=1. So, in 1969, 1981, 1993, 2004.5 and 2015, Jupiter passed through the aphelion of its orbit in the first two dates – practically in moments of maximum solar activity, and then gradually shifted on 1-2 years after the maximum, that is already on the decline of SA. This is due to the fact that the orbital period of Jupiter around the Sun TJ=11.86, and the period of SA TSA=11.1 years. Solar activity can be characterized also by the R index activity, the dependence of which over time has broad maximums with average values of R=105, 155, 170, 115 and 70, respectively, in 1967- 1970, 1979-1982, 1989-1992, 1999-2003 and 2011-2015. The closest to this date summer times on the planet was in the southern hemisphere. During the nearest broad minima of SA (1964-1966, 1975- 1977.5, 1984.7-1987.5, 1995.8-1997.5, 2006-2010.3), when the activity of the Sun was characterized by small values of the index of R=15, Jupiter passed perihelion of its orbit. That was in 1963.8 (before minimum of SA), 1975.6 (at the minimum), 1987.5 (at the end of the minimum), 1998.7 (after the minimum), 2010.6 (after the minimum). Almost in the same times the average curve of AJ(T) also passes through a minimum of its value. If at the time of perihelion transit, and for 1-2 years before these moments in 1963.8, 1975.6 and 1987.5, the value of SA index was minimal R=0-15, then at the time of the planet passage of the perihelion in 1998.7 SA index was rather large R=40; and in 2010.6 R=20 too”. (6)

Ralph Juergens

In 1973 Ralph Juergens wrote: “The continuous arrival of positively charged cosmic rays on earth suggests that our planet carries and continually renews a strong negative charge. Indeed, experiments performed some years ago by Quinn and Chang (Journal of Geophysical Research, 71, 1966, 253 and 72, 1967, 1611) indicate, in spite of the experimenters' pointed disclaimer, that the earth behaves as a secondary cathode in the solar discharge. By making a magnetised steel sphere the cathode in a laboratory discharge, Quinn and Chang produced miniature Van Allen belts, auroral discharges, and other recognisable "geophysical" effects. I would speculate, therefore, that the earth's negative charge represents that of electrons intercepted on their way to the sun by the earth's tail-like sheath, and that this charge is built up to a point where the earth re-emits electrons into the solar discharge. If so, variations in earth-sun electric currents may be held accountable for such phenomena as geomagnetic disturbances, ionospheric disturbances, high-altitude expansions and contractions of the terrestrial atmosphere, and variations in the cosmic-ray flux reaching the earth”.(7)

The scenario suggested by Juergens could equally be applied to Jupiter. Jupiter’s immense magnetosphere is intercepting electrons headed for the Sun by its tail-like sheath. At aphelion Jupiter is able to intercept more free electrons thus powering the planet’s atmospheric activity despite its greater distance from the Sun. This pattern repeats regardless of whether the solar cycle is an odd or even numbered cycle. (8)

That’s odd?

Vidmachenko also found that a minimum of Jovian activity occurs for the odd numbered solar cycles whilst a maximum of activity occurs for the even numbered solar cycles, why should this be so?

During even numbered solar cycles the polarity of the Heliospheric Magnetic Field (HMF) is such that a ‘north’ magnetic polarity exists ‘north’ of the Heliospheric Current Sheet (HCS) whilst a ‘south’ magnetic polarity is found ‘south’ of the HCS. During odd numbered solar cycles the magnetic polarity reverses and a ‘south’ magnetic polarity is found ‘north’ of the HCS and a ‘north’ magnetic polarity is found ‘south’ of the HCS.

Observations originally by Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11 revealed that Jupiter’s magnetic polarity is reversed compared to that of Earth, that is a ‘north’ magnetic polarity is found in Jupiter’s northern hemisphere, whilst a ‘south’ magnetic polarity is found in Jupiter’s southern hemisphere. Now, we find that during even numbered solar cycles the magnetic polarity of the HCS matches that of the Jovian magnetic field polarity, this corresponds to the period of maximum activity found by Vidmachenko. Conversely, the peaks of minimum activity occur when the polarity of the HCS is opposite to the magnetic polarity of Jupiter’s magnetosphere.

It is almost as if when Jupiter’s magnetospheric polarity matches the polarity of the HMF Jupiter is able to intercept more electrons thus powering the planet’s own discharge.

The Great Red Spot

The Great Red Spot (GRS) is the Jovian equivalent of a terrestrial hurricane- the direction of rotation of the GRS (anti-clockwise) in Jupiter’s magnetic field demonstrates that it is cyclonic and not anti-cyclonic in nature.

“The Great Red Spot may have existed since before 1665, but the present spot was first seen only after 1830 and well-studied only after a prominent apparition in 1879. The storm that people had seen in the 1600s may have been a different storm than the one we see today. A long gap separates its period of current study after 1830 from its seventeenth-century discovery; whether the original spot dissipated and reformed, whether it faded, or even if the observational record was simply poor, are all unknown.

“For example, its first sighting is often credited to Robert Hooke, who described a spot on the planet in May 1664; however, it is likely that Hooke's spot was in another belt altogether (the North Equatorial Belt, versus the current Great Red Spot's location in the South Equatorial Belt). Much more convincing is Giovanni Cassini's description of a "permanent spot" the following year. With fluctuations in visibility, Cassini's spot was observed from 1665 to 1713; however, the 118-year observational gap makes the identity of the two spots inconclusive, and the older spot's shorter observational history and slower motion than the modern spot make their identity unlikely”. (9)

In the modern age the appearance of the (GRS) has been known to change, this change has been recorded by passing and orbiting spacecraft. The GRS was prominent in Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 images in 1979- during solar maximum conditions, more recently the demise of the GRS is considered a real possibility by the popular astronomical media.

Is it possible that the size and appearance of the GRS is a feature of the cycle found by Vidmachenko? It could well be that talk of the GRS’s demise is premature and, given conditions in the HMF, the GRS may ‘disappear’ and ‘reappear’ cyclically.

Dark Sun

Jupiter’s immense magnetosphere appears to be intercepting electrons participating in the main solar discharge. Jupiter not only functions as a secondary cathode but it is also influenced by the Hale magnetic cycle and the very current powering the Sun. It truly is a stellar planet!

"The exchange of energy and momentum between the Earth’s upper atmosphere and ionosphere, and its space environment (magnetosphere) is regulated by electric currents (called Birkeland currents) flowing along magnetic field lines that connect these two regions of space. The associated electric currents flow towards and away from each pole primarily in two concentric conical sheets. It has been expected that powerful sheets of magnetic-field-aligned electric currents would be found in association with the bright Jovian auroras. The Juno spacecraft is well positioned to explore Jupiter’s polar magnetosphere and sample Birkeland or field-aligned currents and particle distributions. Since July 2016, Juno has maintained a near-polar orbit, passing over both polar regions every 53 days. From this vantage point, Juno’s complement of science instruments gathers in situ observations of magnetospheric particles and fields while its remote-sensing infrared and ultraviolet spectrographs and imagers map auroral emissions. Here we present an extensive analysis of magnetic field perturbations measured during Juno’s transits of Jupiter’s polar regions, and thereby demonstrate Birkeland currents associated with Jupiter’s auroral emissions. We characterize the magnitude and spatial extent of the currents and we find that they are weaker than anticipated and filamentary in nature. A significant asymmetry is observed between the field perturbations and the current associated with the northern and the southern auroras."

"Jupiter's south pole has a new cyclone. The discovery of the massive Jovian tempest occurred on Nov. 3, 2019, during the most recent data-gathering flyby of Jupiter by NASA's Juno spacecraft. It was the 22nd flyby during which the solar-powered spacecraft collected science data on the gas giant, soaring only 2,175 miles (3,500 kilometers) above its cloud tops. The flyby also marked a victory for the mission team, whose innovative measures kept the solar-powered spacecraft clear of what could have been a mission-ending eclipse.

""The combination of creativity and analytical thinking has once again paid off big time for NASA," said Scott Bolton, Juno principal investigator from the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio. "We realized that the orbit was going to carry Juno into Jupiter's shadow, which could have grave consequences because we're solar powered. No sunlight means no power, so there was real risk we might freeze to death. While the team was trying to figure out how to conserve energy and keep our core heated, the engineers came up with a completely new way out of the problem: Jump Jupiter's shadow. It was nothing less than a navigation stroke of genius. Lo and behold, first thing out of the gate on the other side, we make another fundamental discovery."

"When Juno first arrived at Jupiter in July 2016, its infrared and visible-light cameras discovered giant cyclones encircling the planet's poles — nine in the north and six in the south. Were they, like their Earthly siblings, a transient phenomenon, taking only weeks to develop and then ebb? Or could these cyclones, each nearly as wide as the continental U.S., be more permanent fixtures?

"With each flyby, the data reinforced the idea that five windstorms were swirling in a pentagonal pattern around a central storm at the south pole and that the system seemed stable. None of the six storms showed signs of yielding to allow other cyclones to join in.

"These cyclones are new weather phenomena that have not been seen or predicted before," said Cheng Li, a Juno scientist from the University of California, Berkeley."